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Learning from Christian People in the Past: Fifteen Lives

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Learning from Christian People in the Past: Fifteen Lives LEARNING FROM CHRISTIAN PEOPLE IN THE PAST: FIFTEEN LIVES 1. Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 40-115) 2. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 130-202) 3. Amma Syncletika of Alexandria, Egypt (ca. 270-350) 4. Pope Gregory I (ca. 540-604) 5. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) 6. Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) 7. Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) 8. Menno Simons (1496-1561) 9. John Wesley (1703-1791) 10. Barton Warren Stone (1772-1844) 11 Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874) 12. Samuel Robert Cassius (1853-1931) 13. James A. Harding (1848-1922) 14. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) 15. Annie Tuggle (1890-1976) 16. Oscar A. Romero (1917-1980) Each lesson contains two major sections: (1) a brief biography with attention to their contribution to the history of the Christian faith, and (2) a selection of quotations from their writings for meditation, attentive reading, and discussion. The quotations are placed in italics. 1. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch (ca. 40-115) Most probably, an early bishop in Antioch or at least a leading elder, he was executed in Rome during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117). The date of his martyrdom is uncertain but mostly between 113-116 A.D, perhaps as early as 110. We have no credible accounts of his martyrdom. Ten Roman soldiers escorted him to Rome, and they permitted him to visit churches along the way as well as receive visitors and write letters to congregations. From Smyrna, he wrote to Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, and Rome. From Troas, he wrote to Philadelphia, Smyrna, and a personal letter to Polycarp of Smyrna. The letters are usually dated around 106-110 A.D. His letters reflect vibrant Christian communities scattered along the road from Antioch to Rome. They also reflect the worries and problems in these congregations. The churches wrestled with both theology and organization. Some did not believe that God had come in the flesh (called Docetism), some wanted a return to the Mosaic Law (Judaizers), and others sought leadership in gifts (prophets) than in organization (Bishops). Nevertheless, through his letters, we see communities of baptized believers confessing the Faith (using language similar to summaries in the New Testament) and participating in assemblies centered around the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper). These communities are organized, by city, under (1) a single bishop, (2) a council of presbyters, and (3) a plurality of deacons. Ephesians 13:1-2. Therefore make every effort to come together more frequently to give thanks and glory to God. For when you meet together frequently, the powers of Satan are overthrown and his destructiveness is nullified by the unanimity of your faith. There is nothing better than peace, by which all warfare among those in heaven and those on earth is abolished. Ephesians 20:2. All of you, individually and collectively, gather together in grace, by name, in one faith and one Jesus Christ, who physically was a descendant of David, who is Son of Man and Son of God, in order that you may obey the bishop and the council of presbyters with an undisturbed mind, breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ. Smyrneans 1-3. I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who made you so wise, for I observed that you are established in an unshakable faith, having been nailed, as it were, to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in both body and spirit, and firmly established in love by the blood of Christ, totally convinced with regard to our Lord that he is truly of the family of David with respect to human descent, Son of God with respect to the divine will and power, truly born of a virgin, baptized by John in order that all righteousness might be fulfilled by him, 2 truly nailed in the fesh for us under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch (from its fruit we derive our existence, that is, from his divinely blessed suffering), in order that he might raise a banner for the ages through his resurrection for his saints and faithful people, whether among Jews or among Gentiles, in the one body of his church. For he suffered all these things for our sakes, in order that we might be saved; and he truly suffered just as he truly raised himself—not, as certain unbelievers say, that he suffered in appearance only (it is they who exist in appearance only!). Indeed, their fate will be determined by what they think: they will become disembodied and demonic. 3 For I know and believe that he was in the flesh even after the resurrection; 2 and when he came to Peter and those with him, he said to them: “Take hold of me; handle me and see that I am not a disembodied demon.” And immediately they touched him and believed, being closely united with his flesh and blood. For this reason they too despised death; indeed, they proved to be greater than death. 3 And after his resurrection he ate and drank with them like one who is composed of flesh, although spiritually he was united with the Father. Romans 4. I am corresponding with all the churches and bidding them all realize that I am voluntarily dying for God — if, that is, you do not interfere. I plead with you, do not do me an unseasonable kindness. Let me be fodder for wild beasts — that is how I can get to God. I am God’s wheat and I am being ground by the teeth of wild beasts to make a pure loaf for Christ. I would rather that you fawn on the beasts so that they may be my tomb and no scrap of my body be left. Thus, when I have fallen asleep, I shall be a burden to no one. Then I shall be a real disciple of Jesus Christ when the world sees my body no more. Pray Christ for me that by these means I may become God’s sacrifice. I do not give you orders like Peter and Paul. They were apostles: I am a convict. They were at liberty: I am still a slave. But if I suffer, I shall be emancipated by Jesus Christ; and united to him, I shall rise to freedom. Trallians 4:2. To be sure, I am ever so eager to be a martyr, but I do not know if I deserve to be. Many people have no notion of my impetuous ambition. Yet it is all the more a struggle for me. What I need is gentleness by which the prince of this world is overthrown. 2. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (130s-200?) He was born in Asia Minor (modern western Turkey) where he was discipled by Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna (d. 155), who was discipled at the feet of John the Apostle. At some point, he migrated to Lyons (southern France) in Gaul and became a presbyter (perhaps around 170). While he was carrying a letter to Rome, the military commander, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, executed 48 Christians in the arena, including bishop Pothinus on August 1, 177 A.D. The church was composed mostly of slaves (who were given to the lions) but also a few prominent Roman citizens (who were beheaded). This is part of the account handed down from the church at Lyons, which Eusebius published in his Church History (5.2). They endured nobly the injuries heaped upon them by the populace; clamors and blows and draggings and robberies and stonings and imprisonments, and all things which an infuriated mob delight in inflicting on enemies and adversaries….When, afterwards, they were brought before [the Governor], and he treated us with the utmost cruelty, Vettius Epagathus, one of the brethren, and a man filled with love of God and his neighbor, interfered. His life was so consistent that, although young, he had attained a reputation equal to that of the elder Zacharias: for he 'walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,' and was untiring in every good work for his neighbor, zealous for God and fervent in spirit. Such being his character, he could not endure the unreasonable judgment against us, but was filled with indignation, and asked to be permitted to testify in behalf of his brothers and sisters, that there is among us nothing ungodly or impious. But those about the judgment seat cried out against him, for he was a man of distinction; and the governor refused to grant his just request, and merely asked if he also were a Christian. And he, confessing this with a loud voice, was himself taken into the order of the witnesses, being called the Advocate of the Christians, but having the Advocate in himself, the Spirit more abundantly than Zacharias. He showed this by the fullness of his love, being well pleased even to lay down his life in defense of his brothers and sisters. For he was and is a true disciple of Christ, 'following the Lamb wherever he goes.’ Blandina was filled with such power as to be delivered and raised above those who were torturing her by turns from morning till evening in every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do nothing more to her…Maturus, therefore, and Sanctus and Blandina and Attalus were led to the amphitheater to be exposed to the wild beasts, and to give to the pagan public a spectacle of cruelty, a day for fighting with wild beasts being specially appointed on account of our people….
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